Reports have surfaced of fake joint teams posing as officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), and police personnel conducting bogus raids at commercial centers and harassing traders.
The incident came to light after affected shopkeepers from Karachi’s prominent commercial hub, Jodia Bazaar, submitted a written complaint to the Chairman of the FBR, seeking an inquiry into the alleged impersonation and harassment.
According to a copy of the letter, Sohail Qadri, a trader who has been operating in Jodia Bazaar for over a decade, stated that on January 31 at around 4:00 pm, a group of 10 to 12 individuals stormed his shop. The individuals allegedly threw merchandise onto the floor, damaged goods, and demanded production certificates, accusing him of selling unregistered products.
When questioned, the individuals claimed to be officials of the FBR and PSQCA. However, upon being asked to present official identification or written authorization, they reportedly resorted to threats instead of providing credentials.
The complainant further alleged that three members of the group identified themselves as police personnel from Mitha Dar Police Station. He stated that the group entered his shop without prior notice, a search warrant, or any legal authority, and displayed highly unprofessional conduct while threatening legal action in the name of government institutions.
Despite repeated requests, the alleged officials neither disclosed their identities nor presented any legal documents, raising serious doubts about the legitimacy of the operation. The trader said the incident strongly suggested that the individuals were impersonators misusing the names of state institutions to intimidate and defame them.
Following the incident, the trader approached the relevant police station, where he was informed that the raid had allegedly been orchestrated by a business rival.
He also alleged that an individual named Asif Majeed, purportedly operating under the name Kashif Zia, was behind the incident. According to the complainant, the said individual is himself under investigation by the FBR and PSQCA for sales tax evasion involving millions of rupees, with probes reportedly underway by RTO Lahore and I&I Peshawar.
In his letter, the trader emphasized that he is a law abiding businessman and maintains complete documentation of his commercial transactions, including goods receipts and payment records, copies of which were submitted with the complaint.
He urged the Chairman FBR to order a transparent and impartial investigation and to take strict legal action against those involved in impersonating government officials and harassing traders. He further appealed that decisive action be taken to prevent similar incidents and to protect the business community from unlawful intimidation.
Sources close to chairamn FBR denied carrying out any such joint operations, while reportedly the PSQCA has also launched an internal investigation into the matter.
